The Iowa Independent

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Open letter to readers: Today and tomorrow

By Lynda Waddington | 11.17.11

Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.

ACS lockout continues; plan emerges to repeal sugar protections

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By Virginia Chamlee | 11.15.11

A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.

Cain campaign: Farmers know more about regulations than EPA

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By Andrew Duffelmeyer | 11.15.11

The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.

Mathis wins, Democrats maintain Senate control

Liz Mathis
By Lynda Waddington | 11.08.11

The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.

Press Release

PR: Nation should work to address veterans’ challenges

By Press Release Reprints | 11.11.11

BRUCE BRALEY RELEASE — As US involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan ends, it’s more important than ever that our nation works to address the challenges faced by the men and women who fought there.

PR: Honoring veterans, help in hiring

By Press Release Reprints | 11.11.11

CHUCK GRASSLEY RELEASE — A difficult job market is challenging the soldiers, sailors and airmen who have protected America’s interests by serving in the Armed Forces.

PR: In honor of America’s veterans

By Press Release Reprints | 11.11.11

TOM LATHAM RELEASE — No one has done more to secure the freedom enjoyed by every single American than our veterans and those currently serving in the armed services.

PR: Honoring and supporting our nation’s veterans

By Press Release Reprints | 11.11.11

DAVE LOEBSACK RELEASE — Veterans Day is an opportunity to reflect on the service of generations of veterans and to honor the sacrifices they and their families have made so that we may live in peace and freedom here at home.

Author Archive

Iowa Social Conservatives Gain Power, Wrestle with Pragmatism

By Ben Weyl | 07.31.07 | 10:46 am

In 2002, Bill Salier, an Iowa hog farmer, stunned the political world in Iowa and beyond when he won 41 percent of the vote in a Republican primary, his first run for public office.  He challenged four-term U.S. Rep. Greg Ganske for the right to run against U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, Iowa's Democratic incumbent. Ganske [...]

Grassley: ‘Nussle is my Mini-Me’

By Ben Weyl | 07.28.07 | 2:11 pm

This is just too funny to pass up. The Hill's pseudo-blog, "Under the Dome," reports (in the third story down) that Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley is lobbying on behalf of former Iowa congressman and failed gubernatorial candidate Jim Nussle in his struggling bid to become White House budget director. Grassley said he considers Nussle as [...]

Next Generation of Social Conservatives Already in Trenches

By Ben Weyl | 07.27.07 | 8:17 pm

Everyone knows that social conservatives will come out in droves on the night of the Iowa caucuses. But a growing group of overlooked foot soldiers in this movement will also shape its outcome without even casting a vote. They can’t—they’re teenagers. But they are being trained to wage the political battles of the future for [...]

Iowa Christian Alliance Rebukes Giuliani and McCain in Email

By Ben Weyl | 07.26.07 | 5:05 pm

Iowa Christian Alliance (ICA) president Steve Scheffler sent an email to supporters criticizing former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain for skipping last month's candidate forum sponsored by ICA and Iowans for Tax Relief, First Read reported today. Iowa Independent has obtained a copy of the email, which notes: While the [...]

Romney Spokesman Declines to Comment on Fair Tax

By Ben Weyl | 07.26.07 | 3:50 pm

At the Iowans for Tax Relief/Iowa Christian Alliance candidate forum last month, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney dodged the question of whether he would support the so-called Fair Tax, eliciting a "cool response" from the crowd. In an interview today with Iowa Independent, Romney spokesman Tim Albrecht declined to comment on the Fair Tax. But [...]

Giuliani Continues to Court Caucus-goers

By Ben Weyl | 07.25.07 | 3:15 pm

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has stepped up his Iowa courtship in the last few days, by releasing radio ads here (and in New Hampshire) and by announcing a new list of supporters from southeastern Iowa. His pitch to Iowans continues to focus on the economy and security, while mostly ignoring the hotbed issues [...]

Media Narrative Shifts on Edwards’ ‘Field of Dreams’

By Ben Weyl | 07.23.07 | 11:24 am

[Commentary] John Edwards got some decent press yesterday in the paper of record. The former North Carolina Senator's Iowa chances were examined by the New York Times in a story titled "A Candidate Tends His Field of Dreams." The story is noticeable for its clear-eyed assessment as well as the absence of some damaging Edwards [...]

Chuck Hurley Fights ‘The Culture’ at Iowa Family Policy Center

By Ben Weyl | 07.21.07 | 10:56 am

The culture, more than the caucuses, is the focus of the Iowa Family Policy Center (IFPC), according to its president, Chuck Hurley. This seems to differ from other organizations such as the Iowa Christian Alliance, Concerned Women for America of Iowa, Iowa Right to Life Committee, or the Network of Iowa Christian Home School Educators [...]

Fred Thompson Spokeswoman Declines to ‘Speculate’ on Caucuses

By Ben Weyl | 07.20.07 | 2:30 pm

Iowa GOP Executive Director Chuck Laudner announced Thursday that former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson's name would be on the Ames Straw Poll ballot on Aug. 11. In an interview with Iowa Independent, Burson Snyder, a Thompson spokeswoman, declined to comment on Laudner's decision. "As you know Senator Thompson is not a candidate yet. He’s still [...]

Giuliani Woos Skeptical Iowans — With Some Success

By Ben Weyl | 07.19.07 | 2:04 pm

For much of the pre-caucus season, it seemed former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani was not really playing to win in Iowa. He made waves when he announced he was skipping the Ames Straw Poll and most commentators seemed to agree that Giuliani’s support for abortion rights would doom him in a state where social [...]

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